Jitney: A Play

by August Wilson, Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Preface by)

Overview

From the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Fences and The Piano Lesson, August Wilson's Jitney is a richly textured play that follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or jitneys.

When the city threatens to board up the business and the boss’s son returns from prison, tempers flare, potent secrets are revealed, and the fragile threads binding these people together may come undone at last.

Through rich dialogue and compelling characters, Wilson masterfully captures the essence of a time and place, shedding light on the broader social and economic issues that continue to resonate.

August Wilson's work remains profoundly relevant, as it addresses themes of identity, resilience, and the quest for dignity in the face of adversity. His legacy continues to inspire and provoke thought, making Jitney a must-read for anyone interested in the human condition and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

In addition to an essential and insightful preface by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, this edition boasts production stills from the Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway production, directed by Santiago-Hudson and featuring Harvy Blanks, Anthony Chisholm, Brandon J. Dirden, André Holland, Carra Patterson, Michael Potts, Keith Randolph Smith, Ray Anthony Thomas, and John Douglas Thompson.

Jitney is the winner of:

• Tony Award for Best Play Revival
• New York Drama Critics Award for Best New Play
• Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off Broadway Play

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468314496
Publisher:	The Overlook Press
Publication date:	02/07/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

August Wilson is a major American playwright whose work has been consistently acclaimed as among the finest of the American theater. His first play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for best new play of 1984-85. His second play, Fences, won numerous awards for best play of the year, 1987, including the Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. Joe Turner's Come and Gone, his third play, was also voted best play of 1987-88 by the New York Drama Critics' Circle. In 1990, Wilson was awarded his second Pulitzer Prize for The Piano Lesson.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson is currently the director of August Wilson's Jitneyon Broadway. He won a Tony for his role in August Wilson's Seven Guitars on Broadway, which he later went on to direct himself to high praise. Other directing credits include The Piano Lesson, The First Breeze of Summer, Cabin in the Sky, and the world premiere of Dominique Morriseau's Skeleton Crew. Santiago-Hudson wrote, executive produced and starred in the HBO film "Lackawanna Blues" based on his award-winning play. The film received Emmy, Golden Globe, Humanitas, National Board of Review, and Christopher Awards.